Foreign Judgment Enforcement in Florida
Foreign judgment enforcement (domestication) allows judgments from other U.S. states and foreign countries to be enforced in Florida. The process differs depending on whether the judgment originates from a U.S. state or a foreign country.
U.S. State Judgments (§55.501-55.509)
- File authenticated copy with Florida circuit court clerk
- File affidavit with debtor's address and creditor information
- Serve notice on the judgment debtor
- After notice period, judgment has full Florida effect
- Timeline: 30-60 days typically
Foreign Country Judgments (§55.601-55.607)
- File a new recognition action in Florida court
- Court evaluates jurisdiction, finality, and due process
- Mandatory and discretionary grounds for non-recognition
- Timeline: 3-12 months
Debtor Defenses
- Lack of jurisdiction in the original court
- Judgment already satisfied
- Fraud in obtaining the judgment
- Public policy violations (foreign country judgments)
Related Terms
- Encumbrance — Judgment liens on Florida property
- Equity — Property subject to judgment enforcement
- Contract — Underlying agreements giving rise to judgments
Barnes Walker Litigation
Barnes Walker's attorneys domesticate and enforce foreign judgments in Florida courts, protecting creditors' collection rights. Request a legal inquiry for assistance.
Reviewed by the attorneys at Barnes Walker, Goethe, Shea & Robinson, PLLC